# SandBud vs touch grass

The clearest difference is ratings volume: touch grass at 3K against SandBud's 30. SandBud's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 76%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SandBud sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and touch grass sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SandBud holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: touch grass has 3K ratings behind it against 30, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of SandBud's written reviews are positive against 76% of touch grass's.

SandBud ships an update weekly, touch grass every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SandBud | touch grass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbud-focus-app-blocker/id6550890951/reviews)** | [4.7 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/touch-grass-screen-time-limit/id6739589530/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 30 | **3K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 76.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 281 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sean Kuannery Media, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1757730721) | [Rhys Kentish](https://appshunter.io/developer/1732733441) |

## What reviewers say

### SandBud

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbud-focus-app-blocker/id6550890951)

This app helps you reclaim your screen time and build focus habits by blocking distracting applications. It gamifies the process by allowing you to design a virtual zen garden with elements earned from completed focus sessions. Stay present, reduce scrolling, and cultivate mindfulness with rewarding progress tracking.

**Highlights:** Block apps with focus plans, Design a virtual zen garden, Earn rewards for focus streaks, Track daily focus progress, Enter deep focus with Zen Mode, Take timed breaks, View screen time reports

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TimeBack Premium (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| TimeBack Premium (Yearly) | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Thoughtfully designed
- 👍 Helps save from bad habits
- 👍 Blend of technology and mindfulness
- 👍 Gamified experience for reducing screen time
- 👍 Nurtures a positive habit


### touch grass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/touch-grass-screen-time-limit/id6739589530)

This app helps you break free from mindless scrolling by blocking distracting applications. It requires you to verify that you've touched real grass before allowing access, encouraging you to connect with nature and reduce screen time.

**Highlights:** Block apps until grass is touched, Computer vision for grass detection, Track screen time progress, Flexible unblock durations, Block unlimited apps (premium), View screen time history (premium)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| touch grass pro monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| tg pro weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| touch grass pro monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| tg pro monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| touch grass yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| touch grass yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| touch grass skip credit | $0.99 | one-time |
| 2 touch grass skip credits | $1.99 | one-time |
| 3 touch grass skip credits | $2.99 | one-time |
| 5 touch grass skip credits | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great concept
- 👍 Motivates users to go outside
- 💡 Unique approach to reducing screen time
- 🚀 Works well for most users
- 👍 Simple and intuitive UI

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model limits free features
- 🐛 Issues with grass detection in certain conditions
- 🔒 Ability to bypass restrictions with minimal effort
- 🕰️ Time frame settings can be confusing
- 🌱 Challenges for users in areas with limited greenery

**Reported bugs**

- Camera menu going black
- Inconsistent app behavior after touching grass
- Issues with app recognizing grass in certain conditions

**Requested features**

- More flexible scheduling options
- Ability to block more than 2 apps in free version
- Flashlight or low-light detection for night use
- Expanded detection for different outdoor surfaces
- Social features to share outdoor experiences


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SandBud free?

SandBud is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is touch grass free?

touch grass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SandBud or touch grass?

SandBud is rated higher. SandBud averages 4.9 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while touch grass averages 4.7 from 3K ratings.

### Do SandBud or touch grass have ads?

Neither SandBud nor touch grass shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SandBud or touch grass?

SandBud ships an update weekly, and touch grass every 3 weeks. Most recently, SandBud was updated on November 5, 2026 and touch grass on November 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*